Cycling the Stawberry Line

Cycling the Stawberry Line

Monday 23rd June 2025 | Yatton|

The strawberry Line is an 11-mile traffic free, gravel surfaced cycle path that runs from Yate to Cheddar.  The terrain is suitable for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and on some sections, equestrians.  Before it was a cycle path, it used to be the Cheddar Valley Line, a railway that ran from Yatton to Witham Junction, and was nicknamed the “Strawberry Line” because it transported large volumes of locally grown strawberries to market. The railway line closed in the late 1960s and since the 1980s councils, organisations and volunteers have been repurposing it as a cycle path.  The hope is that one day it will run from Shepton Mallet to Clevedon – won’t that be amazing!

At the start of the path is the Strawberry Line Cycle Project, a not-for-profit cycle hire and repair shop.  The staff there believe that cycling and the countryside should be for everyone and have made sure that their vast range of adaptive bikes reflects that.  With manager Sally and her team’s tremendous support, we were able to invite our North Somerset members out for a day of cycling.  We had a brilliant time; we broke off into several groups with one group making it as far as Axbridge!  Our guide for the day was Will, and he was certainly put to test with one flat tire and a troublesome chain which he dealt with expertly.  Picnics were had and even a cheeky pint at a pub on route for some of us – it was thirsty work after all! 

The trip out was a huge success and has even inspired one member to look into purchasing an adapted bike so he can make cycling part of his everyday life.  Thank you again to the Strawberry Line Cycle Project for a great day.